Leadership Institutions

To encourage community leadership on a broad scale, the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce hosts Leadership Roanoke Valley (LRV), a 10-month interactive leadership curriculum designed to help participants better understand the issues facing the Roanoke region. The program uses creative ideas and approaches to help build leadership skills and to show participants how to make a difference in the business sector and in the community at large. The curriculum areas are created, organized, funded, and facilitated by participants under the guidance of curriculum counselors and address a variety of issues including economic development, technology, education, quality of life, and community involvement.

To help the city achieve its goal of building strong sustainable neighborhoods, the city’s Department of Neighborhood Services manages the Neighborhood Leadership College, which trains neighborhood leaders in community organizing techniques in order to empower Roanoke citizens.